Cadmium is a bluish-white metal that is a product of Zinc, Iron, and Lead ores. It is commonly used in paints, batteries (as a combination with Nickel), alloys, solder, and barriers to help block nuclear fission.
Cadmium can be very dangerous to your health. It can cause nausea and diarrhea in small doses but in large doses it can damage your kidneys, liver, lungs, and nervous system. It is most often consumed by humans through fish or other animals that have already consumed the chemical and through cigarettes. Painters are at a high risk too because Cadmium is very potent in paint fumes and those who work with nuclear fission blockers or with radio transformers are also at a high risk. Cadmium does not affect the environment too much because it is found naturally in the soil, air, and water. Cadmium costs about $12/lb and it is exported mainly from Australia.
While Cadmium is only used in a few everyday products such as batteries and paint, it is too dangerous to our health to continue being used.
Background
Cadmium is a chemical element whose Period Table symbol is Cd and has an atomic number of 48. It is a bluish-white metal that is a byproduct of zinc, copper, and lead ores. Its byproducts include Cadmium Acetate, Cadmium Dichloride, Cadmium Monoxide (CdO), Cadmium Monosulfide (CdS), and Cadmium Sulfate (CdSO4). We use it in low melting alloys, in many types of solder, in batteries, and as a barrier to control nuclear fission.1 2
Cadmium is used in yellow paint pigments and Cadmium Selenide can be used as red pigment (cadmium red). Cadmium yellows, oranges, and reds are the most potent colors to use. Cadmium is also used in black and white television phosphors and in the blue and green phosphors for color television tubes.1 2
Cadmium helps with emitting light from television screens (both color and black & white). It also makes many red, orange, and yellow paints more potent and vibrant.
Cadmium is a natural impurity in Zinc. During Zinc refinement, Cadmium is found and stripped from the Zinc to form it’s own metal.
Most zinc production is based upon Sulphide ores. These are roasted in industrial plants to form Zinc oxide. This may be reduced with carbon to form Zinc metal but in practice ingenious technology is required to ensure that the resulting Zinc does not contain oxide impurities. After this process, Zinc may be refined by distillation under vacuum and this process also allows the separation of any cadmium present in the crude Zinc.1
An acute exposure to high levels of air-Bourne cadmium is known to cause bronchitis, pulmonary oedema, interstitial pneumonia, and damage to the lungs, which can lead to death. Chronic exposure to air-Bourne cadmium can have an effect on kidneys and cause an impairment of lung function.
Consuming food or water that contains cadmium in acute amounts can effect the nervous system, kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, vomiting, and diarrhea. Chronic consumption of cadmium contaminated foods can lead to lung damage, fragile bones, Itai-itai disease, and a build up of cadmium in the kidneys, which can lead to kidney disease.1 2
Cadmium is used with Nickel, Zinc, Iron, and Lead. Cadmium is found naturally in the soil, air, and water but in very small quantities. Since Cadmium is a metal it does not break down and instead continues to build up. Cadmium can be released into the environment by burning household or industrial waste and coal or oil. Cadmium can also be released from car exhaust, metal processing industries, battery and paint manufacturing, waste hauling and disposal activities.1
If Cadmium were to be banned, paints and cigarettes would be less toxic (although the paints wouldn’t be as bright and cigarettes wouldn’t be the same).1
Some alternatives for cadmium include Lead, Tin, and Zinc. For Cadmium alternative batteries, Lead-Acid batteries cost 2-4 times less than Cadmium based batteries.2 With Cadmium plated metals that block nuclear fission, replacing the Cadmium depends entirely on the situation. In some cases, replacing Cadmium with Zinc can be beneficial; in others it can be disastorous.3 If Cadmium were banned, NiCd batteries would be nonexistent.
Australia is an exporter of Cadmium. For the average American there are a few costs and benefits of banning Cadmium. Painters will have duller paints; NiCd batteries (which are brighter and better for frequent nighttime driving) will be gone; Cadmium plated metals that block nuclear fission will have to be replaced with Zinc which offers less protection.
Table of Contents
Abstract
Cadmium is a bluish-white metal that is a product of Zinc, Iron, and Lead ores. It is commonly used in paints, batteries (as a combination with Nickel), alloys, solder, and barriers to help block nuclear fission.
Cadmium can be very dangerous to your health. It can cause nausea and diarrhea in small doses but in large doses it can damage your kidneys, liver, lungs, and nervous system. It is most often consumed by humans through fish or other animals that have already consumed the chemical and through cigarettes. Painters are at a high risk too because Cadmium is very potent in paint fumes and those who work with nuclear fission blockers or with radio transformers are also at a high risk. Cadmium does not affect the environment too much because it is found naturally in the soil, air, and water. Cadmium costs about $12/lb and it is exported mainly from Australia.
While Cadmium is only used in a few everyday products such as batteries and paint, it is too dangerous to our health to continue being used.
Background
Cadmium is a chemical element whose Period Table symbol is Cd and has an atomic number of 48. It is a bluish-white metal that is a byproduct of zinc, copper, and lead ores. Its byproducts include Cadmium Acetate, Cadmium Dichloride, Cadmium Monoxide (CdO), Cadmium Monosulfide (CdS), and Cadmium Sulfate (CdSO4). We use it in low melting alloys, in many types of solder, in batteries, and as a barrier to control nuclear fission.1 2
Cadmium is used in yellow paint pigments and Cadmium Selenide can be used as red pigment (cadmium red). Cadmium yellows, oranges, and reds are the most potent colors to use. Cadmium is also used in black and white television phosphors and in the blue and green phosphors for color television tubes.1 2
Cadmium helps with emitting light from television screens (both color and black & white). It also makes many red, orange, and yellow paints more potent and vibrant.
1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium
2) http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/48.html
Synthesis & Production
Cadmium is a natural impurity in Zinc. During Zinc refinement, Cadmium is found and stripped from the Zinc to form it’s own metal.
Most zinc production is based upon Sulphide ores. These are roasted in industrial plants to form Zinc oxide. This may be reduced with carbon to form Zinc metal but in practice ingenious technology is required to ensure that the resulting Zinc does not contain oxide impurities. After this process, Zinc may be refined by distillation under vacuum and this process also allows the separation of any cadmium present in the crude Zinc.1
1. http://www.webelements.com/webelements/elements/text/Cd/key.html
Health Risks
An acute exposure to high levels of air-Bourne cadmium is known to cause bronchitis, pulmonary oedema, interstitial pneumonia, and damage to the lungs, which can lead to death. Chronic exposure to air-Bourne cadmium can have an effect on kidneys and cause an impairment of lung function.
Consuming food or water that contains cadmium in acute amounts can effect the nervous system, kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, vomiting, and diarrhea. Chronic consumption of cadmium contaminated foods can lead to lung damage, fragile bones, Itai-itai disease, and a build up of cadmium in the kidneys, which can lead to kidney disease.1 2
1. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts5.html#bookmark05
2. http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/cadmium.htm then click, ‘Main Risks & Target Organs’
Environmental
Cadmium is used with Nickel, Zinc, Iron, and Lead. Cadmium is found naturally in the soil, air, and water but in very small quantities. Since Cadmium is a metal it does not break down and instead continues to build up. Cadmium can be released into the environment by burning household or industrial waste and coal or oil. Cadmium can also be released from car exhaust, metal processing industries, battery and paint manufacturing, waste hauling and disposal activities.1
1. http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/cadmium.htm
Economic & Political Implications
If Cadmium were to be banned, paints and cigarettes would be less toxic (although the paints wouldn’t be as bright and cigarettes wouldn’t be the same).1
Some alternatives for cadmium include Lead, Tin, and Zinc. For Cadmium alternative batteries, Lead-Acid batteries cost 2-4 times less than Cadmium based batteries.2 With Cadmium plated metals that block nuclear fission, replacing the Cadmium depends entirely on the situation. In some cases, replacing Cadmium with Zinc can be beneficial; in others it can be disastorous.3 If Cadmium were banned, NiCd batteries would be nonexistent.
Australia is an exporter of Cadmium. For the average American there are a few costs and benefits of banning Cadmium. Painters will have duller paints; NiCd batteries (which are brighter and better for frequent nighttime driving) will be gone; Cadmium plated metals that block nuclear fission will have to be replaced with Zinc which offers less protection.
1. http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2005/2005-07-22-02.asp
2. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/marty_sla-nicad.html
3. http://www.finishing.com/130/89.shtml
Summary
Cadmium, while useful for bright paints, night lights, and fission blockers, has health risks that are far to great for it to continue to be used.